Conservative MP David Amess wants as many houses as possible to meet minimum energy efficiency requirement, which may have ramifications for agents sales literature if it becomes law.

Agents may one day have to ensure homes sold in the UK meet a minimum EPC rating, as rental properties already do, it has been revealed.

From April this year rented homes must meet the minimum Band E rating, something agents will soon have to police when advertising properties, but it appears likely that the proposed legislation for all domestic properties may lead to the same requirement for properties offered for sale.

As “many homes as practical” will have to reach a minimum Band C Energy Performance Certificate if a debate in Parliament later today goes the way of green campaigner David Amess, MP.

The conservative backbench MP has been granted time to debate a Private Members’ Bill to bring in the measure, which would come into effect in 2030 for ‘fuel poor homes’ and for all properties by 2035.

Under parliamentary rules he will have ten minutes to argue his case for the new legislation, while an MP opposing the motion will then speak, also for ten minutes. MPs will then be allowed to vote on whether the Bill Amess proposes should proceed into law.

Domestic Energy Efficiency Bill

The MP for Southend recently spoke at a meeting of the Sustainable Energy Association (SEA) (see above) at which he called on attendees to support his Domestic Energy Efficiency Bill.

It would commit the government to bring all homes up to Band C, something the SEA has been campaigning over for some time. At the meeting David Amess claimed this would not be a controversial move and that it was a promise already made in the Conservative Party manifesto before the most recent election.

David also said that the aim to have all homes brought up to Band C by 2035 would be tempered by a caveat that it would be “where practical, cost effective and affordable”.